The correlation between basal serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels before embryo cryopreservation and the clinical outcome of frozen embryo transfers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the correlation between basal serum FSH level before the fresh IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle and the clinical outcome of the subsequent frozen embryo replacement cycles.


METHODS
Retrospective observational study.


METHODS
University tertiary referral center, London, United Kingdom.


METHODS
Five hundred four consecutive frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles where serum FSH levels were obtained, on days 1-4 of the cycle before the fresh IVF +/- ICSI cycles.


METHODS
Frozen-thawed embryo transfer.


METHODS
Clinical pregnancy (CP) and live birth (LB).


RESULTS
Basal serum FSH in 127 women (25.2%) who had a CP was significantly lower compared with that in women who did not have a CP. Multivariate regression analysis showed significant correlation between basal serum FSH levels and clinical pregnancy and a low significance to LB, but there was no statistical significant differences between women who had a CP and those who did not with regard to age, treatment protocol (natural or hormone treatment cycle), or the freeze-thaw interval. The LB rate was higher in natural cycles (n = 71; 21.2%) than in hormone treatment cycles (n = 28; 16.7%). Conceiving in the fresh cycle had a positive influence on the FET outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Basal serum FSH level before fresh IVF/ICSI cycle is inversely correlated to a CP outcome in FET cycles. A trend was present between FSH levels and LB, but this failed to reach statistical significance.
Kassab
Ahmed
A
Barts and The London Centre for Reproductive Medicine, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, United Kingdom; Present address: Bridgewater, Somerset, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Kassab1963@yahoo.com.
Sabatini
Luca
L
Barts and The London Centre for Reproductive Medicine, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, United Kingdom.
Tozer
Amanda
A
Barts and The London Centre for Reproductive Medicine, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, United Kingdom.
Zosmer
Ariel
A
Barts and The London Centre for Reproductive Medicine, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, United Kingdom.
Mostafa
Magdy
M
Research Biostatistics Unit, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Al-Shawaf
Talha
T
Barts and The London Centre for Reproductive Medicine, St Bartholomew's Hospital, West Smithfield, London, United Kingdom.
D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D050498:Live Birth; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone